"After all, we cannot know what we are going to express. What is really creative is bound to be a surprisebecause it is something we couldn't have thought of. This is the thing that we resist the most. We want toknow where we are going, why we are doing it, and what it is going to give to us. We want to know it all.To be creative means becoming more familiar with being a little lost. If we are always full of what wewant to do, there is no room for the new."- Michell Cassou

Saturday, March 20, 2010

"Do not destroy yourself just because you are good at what you do. Eat well, exercise, and take care of you!" - Margaret M. Sheehan

Life is change. With the increasing pressure of upcoming deadlines, I am feeling the effects of my very own, personal saboteur. Yes, you may know what I'm talking about! That crafty demon in disguise! The one that suddenly makes junk food more appealing, and you gorge on it until you feel fat, worthless and disgusting. The one that subliminally seduces you to stay up late playing a computer game so that the next day you feel cranky, unfocussed and tired. The one that places silly mundane tasks in your path so you avoid getting right down to the meaty stuff until the deadline is tomorrow and you can't do anything about it. Well, welcome to my world.

Monday, March 8, 2010

"If you're going to have an event, better make it big. Or even bigger than that. It needs to be awe-inspiring, frightening, on deadline and worth losing sleep over." - Seth Godin, from his blog 2/19/10

In this class you'll begin piecing the art quilt that resides inside of you. Using simple shapes as a stepping stone, with fabrics that you have made or bought, you'll confront the sometimes daunting questions of, "Where do I begin?", "How do I know where to go next?" and "What happens if I do this?" Exploration within certain guidelines will allow you to maintain your voice while being exposed to standard techniques needed to create a base.

Friday, March 5, 2010

"Those who are comfortable taking chances know that the best way to grow is to reach beyond their grasp. Their sense of direction comes from the heart. They don't shy away from surprise; they might even seek it out. And they seldom die with regrets. In the end we regret not what we have done but what we have not done."-from the book, Get out of your own way

I am organizing my fabrics, the final touch to completing the new look of my studio. It's a completely new look and it's taken forever, it seems, to get it to this stage. Now to dive in and work. I have the rest of the afternoon and weekend to fuss in here.

Monday, March 1, 2010

"Art does not reproduce what is visible; it makes things visible"

O.K. I need to take an assessment of all my unfinished quilt tops in preparation for my upcoming show. Which ones do I choose to make visible? Create a realistic timeline. Allow for hyperventilation. Good!

Today, I got randomly selected for jury duty. Not sure how I feel about this... mad because I am missing a couple days of personal time, but I'm also intrigued to see a court in action.
So, words to myself? Just stay open to new things because they are coming at you full speed. Stay focussed. Stay on track.

"If there wasn’t a penalty for laughing in court, the jury would never be able to hear the evidence."